201 Powerful Resume Words That Will Electrify Your Application

Your resume is often the first chance a Hiring Manager or Recruiter has to see who you are. Before they check your social media or even think about getting you to interview, they will start forming an opinion about you. Whether you quantify your claims with hard numbers (definitely do this), a cheeky selfie (definitely don’t!) or give them a zombie resume (huh?), you will be telling an employer who you are.

One quick way to turn an employer off is give them a resume that easily could have been someone else’s. Using the same tired phrases makes you look unimaginative and unoriginal. Not really the approach you want to take when trying to impress a Hiring Manager.

Think about what message you are trying to convey and see if you can change old phrases with these powerful action verbs.

Powerful Resume Words

Making your resume stand out isn’t just about stuffing it full of powerful resume words. Find where you can use these words and replace them as necessary. To help you sort out the list we have broken them into the following skill / experience categories:

Accomplishing a goal

Making Improvements to Work

Developing Opportunities for Growth

Expanding the Business’ Base

Communicating with Others

Increasing Efficiency

Selling more product

Running a project

Managing a team

Solving Others’ Problems

You Accomplished a Goal

1. Attained

2. Completed

3. Demonstrated

4. Earned

5. Effectuated

6. Enacted

7. Exceeded

8. Finished

9. Fulfilled

10. Outperformed

11. Reached

12. Showcased

13. Succeeded

14. Surpassed

15. Targeted

You Changed Something at Work For the Better

16. Augmented

17. Centralised

18. Clarified

19. Converted

20. Corrected

21. Customised

22. Elaborated

23. Enriched

24. Integrated

25. Merged

26. Modified

27. Overhauled

28. Redesigned

29. Refined

30. Refocused

31. Rehabilitated

32. Remodelled

33. Reorganised

34. Replaced

35. Restructured

36. Revamped

37. Revitalised

38. Simplified

39. Standardised

40. Streamlined

41. Strengthened

42. Transformed

43. Updated

44. Upgraded

You Developed a New Business Opportunity, Project, or Product

45. Built

46. Charted

47. Created

48. Designed

49. Developed

50. Devised

51. Engineered

52. Established

53. Formalised

54. Formed

55. Formulated

56. Founded

57. Implemented

58. Incorporated

59. Initiated

60. Instituted

61. Introduced

62. Launched

63. Pioneered

64. Spearheaded

You Grew the Business and Brought in New Clients, Customers, and Business Partners

65. Enticed

66. Attracted

67. Acquired

68. Forged

69. Navigated

70. Negotiated

71. Partnered

72. Secured

You Communicated with Clients, Customers, and Coworkers

73. Edited

74. Accommodated

75. Adjudicated

76. Advertised

77. Communicated

78. Connected

79. Contacted

80. Conveyed

81. Corresponded

82. Disseminated

83. Imparted

84. Informed

85. Interacted

86. Mediated

87. Moderated

88. Publicised

89. Reached out

90. Related

91. Transfered

92. Transmitted

You Helped the Company Become More Efficient

93. Reworked

94. Rectified

95. Adjusted

96. Conserved

97. Consolidated

98. Decreased

99. Deducted

100. Diagnosed

101. Enhanced

102. Lessened

103. Prolonged

104. Reconciled

105. Reduced

106. Reformed

107. Yielded

You Increased Sales or Helped Increase the Company’s Profits

108. Accelerated

109. Achieved

110. Advanced

111. Amplified

112. Boosted

113. Broadened

114. Capitalised

115. Deepened

116. Delivered

117. Expanded

118. Expedited

119. Furthered

120. Gained

121. Generated

122. Improved

123. Lifted

124. Maximised

125. Outpaced

126. Reinforced

127. Safeguarded

128. Stimulated

129. Sustained

You Lead a Group or Project

130. Administered

131. Chaired

132. Controlled

133. Coordinated

134. Executed

135. Headed

136. Operated

137. Orchestrated

138. Organised

139. Oversaw

140. Planned

141. Produced

142. Programmed

You Were a Supervisor / Manager / or Leader Who … Your Team

143. Aligned

144. Animated

145. Braced

146. Cultivated

147. Directed

148. Emboldened

149. Enabled

150. Enlivened

151. Excited

152. Facilitated

153. Fostered

154. Galvanised

155. Guided

156. Heartened

158. Imbued

159. Infected

160. Influenced

161. Infused

162. Inspired

163. Instilled

164. Invigorated

165. Mentored

166. Mobilised

167. Modernised

168. Motivated

169. Propelled

170. Provoked

171. Pushed

172. Reassured

173. Recruited

174. Regulated

175. Reinvigorated

176. Rejuvenated

177. Shaped

178. Sparked

179. Spurred

180. Supervised

181. Swayed

182. Taught

183. Trained

184. Unified

185. United

You Helped Customers and Coworkers

186. Tutored

187. Advised

188. Advocated

189. Appeased

190. Arbitrated

191. Coached

192. Conciliated

193. Consulted

194. Educated

195. Familiarised

196. Fielded

197. Handled

198. Informed

199. Resolved

200. Satisfied

201. Supported

Word to the Wise

Before you race off trying to stuff as many of these words into your resume as possible, it’s worth taking the time to make sure the sentences still work.

Nothing is more obvious than someone who has used a thesaurus without considering what the word means or if the sentence makes sense. Being a warm person with a big heart is an admirable quality (especially in Aged Care positions!), don’t blow it by describing yourself as a humid Homo sapien with a full-sized aortic pump (credit to Joey Tribbiani).

So, before you send out your next application – go through your resume and see if you can substitute some old worn-out words with bold, powerful action verbs that will take your resume from zero to one hundred.

Matt Jepson

Matt Jepson is a content writer and researcher for JobGetter. When he was 10 he thought he would be a super vet but has stuck with just loving animals rather than working with them. A Sydney native, Matt’s first job was a Learn to Swim instructor helping get children and adults into the pool. As part of the JobGetter team, Matt loves his job because it gives him an opportunity to help real people, solve problems, and research issues in the workplace. He is committed to changing the way job seekers get work and making the process of getting a job as good as it should be. When he is taking a break from researching the job seeking landscape, Matt can be found watching the NFL.